Fire hazard may be extreme by weekend

Despite a cold and wet spring the fire hazard for the Coastal
Fire Centre, which includes Whistler and Sea to Sky, is now rated at high
heading into the Canada Day/Independence Day long weekend.

A high rating means no campfires are allowed, and that
contractors working in the interface forest may encounter work restrictions.
The public barbecues remain at Whistler’s parks but could be removed if the
hazard rating edges up to extreme.

“If tomorrow is the same (high) rating we’ll be letting
contractors know if they’re working in the interface, they’ll have to shut down
by one o’clock in the afternoon. If the risk goes to extreme and stays there
three days in a row, they have to shut down in the interface area.”

Whistler Fire Services goes by B.C. Forest Service regulations
regarding closures and any additional steps taken to mitigate the fire risk.

According to Hall, what’s interesting this year is how quickly
the hazard rating has climbed.

“We really need to emphasize to people, when they’re out in the
bush, to be careful out there,” he said.

While things have been quiet so far in the Coastal Fire Centre,
Interior fire centres are already busy. Since the beginning of April, crews
have battled over 50 fires larger than 10 hectares in size. Nine fires were
active as of Monday, and one fire at Gataga Lake has consumed an estimated
2,600 hectares of forest.